Facebook and its influence in an investigation

[steve22]

Hi all,

I am curious regarding those of you who have been through the process to know if Facebook has played a supporting role on either side (Private messages between the accused and victim(s) etc.)

I ask as I feel i have an extensive collection of mine with the "victims" that potentially prove my innocence to quite an extent.

Even better, i am certain that there has been contact between all 3 "victims" which would have some evidence of them coming up with the master plan to get me by crying rape so to speak, this could also prove PCJ but despite my instance that the police check for this communication while they investigate, are they likely to do this?

If they were to find anything suspect but not conclusive between the girls, am i allowed access to copies of these messages to add to my defense if i am charged?

Would the police go to the extent of examining a "victim"s mobile phone for text messages and similar that confirm a false allegation has been made?

I would hate to think it is in fact everyone against me, but let's try and be a little bit realistic here rather than living in a dream world..

S.

[whatsgoingon?]

Hi Steve22,
If you have a way of printing these messages out (or photgraphing and then printing) they could be helpful. If you're taking picture, you may need to be careful about what information you frame eg date=good, passing info about friends= maybe not so good.
However, if you're asking what I think you are (correct me if wrong) eg. would FB be instrumental in your preparing your defence - I doubt very much if they would. They may be able to let you have past messages addressed to or from you, but not other people's.
Realistically speaking - it's the alleged rapes that are being investigated (unless you have put in a formal complaint against your exs of course).
WGO

[steve22]

Morning WGO,

I find it all very interesting. The police were very keen in "requesting" my Facebook log in details, not that they really had to ask as im sure they can request directly and it was just a courtesy that had been extended. Goes without saying that i surrendered the login email and password so that they could do as they please.

I made a point during interview of stating that it was all in fact a conspiracy (everyone is out to get me don't you know?) and that i was certain that they would have communications between each other on Facebook relating to the case before allegations were even made. - I knew this as one of them had let it slip during a post-rape friendly chat that there was a genius master plan between them all to take over the world, or failing that cause me a horrendous amount of grief. It seems the latter prevailed. But the police assured me that this would be investigated accordingly.

I was just interested to find out if anyone else has had a case or know of someone who has had a case where it has been used as crucial evidence. I know it is admissible in court though.

Cheers,

Steve.

[Yorkster]

I was asked by my solicitor if I had facebook get as much info off it as it can help me in my case unfortunately my wife hasn't got it

[whatsgoingon?]

If they've got your login details I would have thought they can do what they like. I'm surprised they're even allowed to ask for them. I think I must still be quite 'green' even though I've been on here for over a year now.

[just married]

During my investigation, and after my being arrested from home at 7.30am, fingerprinted, photographed, DNA swabbed, given breakfast, and then put in a cell, then fetched out some few hours later for a full, frank and open interview, (without a solicitor present - All members will advise you against this.) I actually (All members will tell you not to do this either,) invited the interviewing DC and his colleague (they gave me a lift home) to check my recent emails with my accuser, (I printed copies for them) and volunteered my password and login details of my facebook account so they could examine the 4 1/2 thousand messages between me and my accuser.

Judging by the overall mood on the forum, and the multitude of gut-wrenching stories here, It seems I was lucky in not having any reason to suspect I was particularly badly treated by the police in my case. I was issued with a NFA notice after six weeks, following the involvement of a highly reputable recommended specialist solicitor in my local area.

It is possible to download your data from your facebook account settings, thereby saving for yourself a copy of everything, including all messages to and from your FB messages inbox.

I had huge problems trying to do this for months, the screen would just white over when I tried to download my data..... I emailed various forensic labs for technical help..... You will probably know, there is no actual 'customer service' contact for facebook, though the police, via forensic labs, have access to the data.
Eventually, for no apparent reason, I succeeded in my download, and now have my 4 1/2 thousand messages as evidence in my defence, should it ever become necessary in the future.

Good luck.

[steve22]

During my investigation, and after my being arrested at 7.30am, fingerprinted, photographed, DNA swabbed, given breakfast, and then put in a cell, then fetched out some few hours later for a full, frank and open interview, (without a solicitor present - All members will advise you against this.) I actually (All members will tell you not to do this either,) invited the interviewing DC and his colleague (they gave me a lift home) to check my recent emails with my accuser, (I printed copies for them) and volunteered my password and login details of my facebook account so they could examine the 4 1/2 thousand messages between me and my accuser.

This is the closest i have found anyone to being to my story, except they got me out of bed at 6.30am No solicitor for me and gave up anything they wanted as i felt i had nothing to hide. Over the 3 people i was accused of raping i have over 3000 messages, managed to bring up the entire conversation history on the web page and paste into a spreadsheet for each person)

Judging by the overall mood on the forum, and the multitude of gut-wrenching stories here, It seems I was lucky in not having any reason to suspect I was particularly badly treated by the police in my case. I was issued with a NFA notice after six weeks, following the involvement of a specialist solicitor in my local area.

I can keep my fingers crossed but given the extent of my allegations (multiple rapes, burglary, pictures etc.) I get the feeling from the forum i could be without my phone and laptop for some time and it could take more than a once over and being NFA'd for me How did you involve a solicitor after your original interview, did you just return from bail with one and by the end of the day you got the all clear?

Thank you for sharing

[just married]

I can keep my fingers crossed but given the extent of my allegations (multiple rapes, burglary, pictures etc.) I get the feeling from the forum i could be without my phone and laptop for some time and it could take more than a once over and being NFA'd for me How did you involve a solicitor after your original interview, did you just return from bail with one and by the end of the day you got the all clear?

Thank you for sharing

I had a lot of trouble with finding legal help, eventually contacting a solicitor recommended here on the forum. I emailed him, he replied, said he'd be able to see me. Made an appointment, went to see him. Presented my 40 page document I'd prepared. Talked for nearly 2 hours, (over a scheduled 1 hour appointment).... He then called me the next day, telling me I would get NFA at my bail return date, which was due two or three days after that.

However, the police had retained my mobile phone, immediately after my arrest, (with very explicit texts from my accuser) and had had nearly six weeks to examine the facebook messages, (whether or not they actually did, I don't know.) but had not seized my computer. The only contact I had with the police was my arrest and interview, then a few emails and one phonecall I (once again inadvisedly) made to them to try to get a copy of my accuser's statement. This, of course, at that stage of the investigation, they were unable to provide.

[Rights Fighter]

Best not to merely copy and paste Facebook/Twitter evidence or print off pages straight from the screen. Take proper screenshots and provide the solicitor with the evidence. It may or may not be admissible depending on how you hope to adduce it (bring it in).

If you print off straight from the screen the Crown could claim you have pasted it into a Word processing doc and edited it.

[just married]

Best not to merely copy and paste Facebook/Twitter evidence or print off pages straight from the screen. Take proper screenshots and provide the solicitor with the evidence. It may or may not be admissible depending on how you hope to adduce it (bring it in).

If you print off straight from the screen the Crown could claim you have pasted it into a Word processing doc and edited it.

Many thanks, RF.

Very true. One very helpful forensic chap did tell me it was possible to set up a camera and video oneself scrolling through the 4.5K messages. With a little trial and error, he told me this would possibly make admissible evidence.

[Faith]

The content of the messages and the context are important factors when considering admissability, as RF says, as well as the way in which they are saved.

[Rights Fighter]

Many thanks, RF.

Very true. One very helpful forensic chap did tell me it was possible to set up a camera and video oneself scrolling through the 4.5K messages. With a little trial and error, he told me this would possibly make admissible evidence.

I cannot imagine which forensic expert would have told you to go through that convoluted process. I've had Facebook/Twitter'YouTube evidence used at court without having to do that...... very odd.....

[just married]

I cannot imagine which forensic expert would have told you to go through that convoluted process. I've had Facebook/Twitter'YouTube evidence used at court without having to do that...... very odd.....

The total FB 'conversation' with illustrations would print to about 300 pages or more of A4... maybe 12 or 1500 or so screenshots... depending, as Faith says, on their relevance and context....

[steve22]

See ive sparked a debate now.

I would have thought due to messages having the bonus of being able to be verified in realtime relatively quickly with times and dates that the way in which it is presented shouldnt be a technical nightmare?..

[Faith]

Unless they are screenshotted, it is as RF says....it could easily be argued that they have been edited.